I do not mean to sound elitist, but it seems like we have it much better here in the United States in terms of motorcycle licensing. One license, you can ride anything with two wheels.

Ayup. Here in Finland we have four licenses:

Moped license (M) that allows you to drive "motorcycles" that are 50cc and their speed is limited to 45km/h. Nowadays this costs around 400 euros. You have to be 15 years old to get this.

Light motorcycle license (A1) that allows you to drive motorcycles that are up to 125cc and their max power is 11kW. This costs around 800 euros. Age limit 16.

Middle class motorcycle license ("small-A") that allows you to drive bikes that have their max power limited to 25kW and their power to weight ratio is up to 0,16 kW/kg. This card is free IF you have driven A1-license before. Otherwise it costs another 800 euros. You'll have to be 18 years for this.

And finally the real deal, full motorcycle license (A) that allows you to drive anything on two wheels. I THINK that you will get this free too if you have driven A1 or small A. If you haven't it costs about 900 euros. You'll also have to be 21 years old to get it.

Personally I think this is BULLSHIT. It's pretty much just legal robbery. Nothing else.

The moped license used to be around 40€ and it only consisted a theory exam. Now it has a few driving lessons and a few theory lessons, plus the theory exam and a driving exam.

Moped license (M) that allows you to drive "motorcycles" that are 50cc and their speed is limited to 45km/h. Nowadays this costs around 400 euros. You have to be 15 years old to get this.

Light motorcycle license (A1) that allows you to drive motorcycles that are up to 125cc and their max power is 11kW. This costs around 800 euros. Age limit 16.

Middle class motorcycle license ("small-A") that allows you to drive bikes that have their max power limited to 25kW and their power to weight ratio is up to 0,16 kW/kg. This card is free IF you have driven A1-license before. Otherwise it costs another 800 euros. You'll have to be 18 years for this.

And finally the real deal, full motorcycle license (A) that allows you to drive anything on two wheels. I THINK that you will get this free too if you have driven A1 or small A. If you haven't it costs about 900 euros. You'll also have to be 21 years old to get it.

Personally I think this is BULLSHIT. It's pretty much just legal robbery. Nothing else.

The moped license used to be around 40€ and it only consisted a theory exam. Now it has a few driving lessons and a few theory lessons, plus the theory exam and a driving exam.

We have the same system here in Germany, only that the licenses are more expensive

No power restrictions? So anyone who has the license can jump on a 1000cc sportsbike just like that? That's pretty insane.

yes, and that's why many people get killed

some guy wrecked about a quarter mile from my house. the guy bought a honda cbr600rr for his first bike and only had it for a week before he crashed and died. he locked up his front brakes around a turn and hit a guard rail.

No power restrictions? So anyone who has the license can jump on a 1000cc sportsbike just like that? That's pretty insane.

It is exactly like that. The license does not cost much either. It costs 25 dollars for the written and that is it. You can get your motorcycle skills test waived if you took a motorcycle safety course too.

It is exactly like that. The license does not cost much either. It costs 25 dollars for the written and that is it. You can get your motorcycle skills test waived if you took a motorcycle safety course too.

It is exactly like that. The license does not cost much either. It costs 25 dollars for the written and that is it. You can get your motorcycle skills test waived if you took a motorcycle safety course too.

MSF costs like $350 here so it can cost a little bit of money if you go that route.

I recently Bought a Honda St-90 (1974). Wiring is shot and the motor doesn't work for some reason. The seat is pretty much completely chewed off. It's missing a mirror and a few lights as well. There's some rust as well, not serious though. I found a bunch of parts for it though, almost enough to build an entire bike minus the motor and wheels. I'll post pics when I get around to shifting my ass over to the garage where I keep it. I'll be fixing it up as a personal project.

I love those little bikes, had a black Trail 70 back when we lived on an acreage, used to putt around all the time. I always tried to go as fast as possible on the dirt road, usually ended up in the ditch haha.

It is exactly like that. The license does not cost much either. It costs 25 dollars for the written and that is it. You can get your motorcycle skills test waived if you took a motorcycle safety course too.

Haha, it costs 120 USD for 1 driving lesson here.. and you can only guess how much the safety courses, driving exam, etc costs.

Here's my pride and joy, a 1983 Honda MBX 50 my first ever bike, soon to be replaced by a 125 Honda MTX or a 100 Honda MB50 (yes it was tuned out for 100 cc, i know originally the mb was a 50) all original paintwork too, we just cleaned it up a bit and sorted the carb, been stood since 1984, had 5000 miles dead on the clock

Here's my pride and joy, a 1983 Honda MBX 50 my first ever bike, soon to be replaced by a 125 Honda MTX or a 100 Honda MB50 (yes it was tuned out for 100 cc, i know originally the mb was a 50) all original paintwork too, we just cleaned it up a bit and sorted the carb, been stood since 1984, had 5000 miles dead on the clock

Yeah 2 stroke 50cc, when it was new and shiny it probably had about 6 or 7 hp maybe, many many moons have passed since then, it struggles on hills like mad but heh =), we also worked out that if a engine loses 1 hp per year mine would be at around about -18 XD

Is that a Ural? I have heard rumors that they can be expensive to maintain due to imported parts and that they might not have the greatest construction. Is there any basis to these rumors?

It's not Ural, it's Dnepr, well, you can call it ukrainian Ural (bikes are pretty much the same and both use flat engine).
Expensive to maintain - if you don't live in post-USSR territory than yes, it's hard to find parts. But I live in Ukraine, where the Dnepr factory itself is located, so the bikes themselves are very cheap here and there are official dealers that sell parts, they are cheap too.

So I rode my first street bike this past weekend. Was my friend's Yamaha Virago 250 so it was pretty easy and I enjoyed getting used to it. Was insanely comfortable as well, but I'm still gonna want a sport bike when I go ahead and get one.

Yeah growl is the right word, great sound. What do you prefer, the naked or faired ones? Pre- or post 2003?

The nude ones look better, i don't know why but the sidefairings look really off on that bike.
I prefer the newer ones, the old ones look way too "Soft", i don't know how to explain it. The lights are too circular and everything is so curvy